‘Happy Endings’ Could Head to USA if Canceled by ABC

Just after ABC brought back Happy Endings, complete with a somewhat lazy campaign to save the show from what seems like inevitable cancellation, there might actually be some good news for the comedy series.

Right now the problem is that Happy Endings isn’t pulling in enough viewers to warrant being on primetime network television. The series’ return last Friday resulted in 2.97 million viewers for the first episode, and 2.29 for the second (ABC is airing episodes back-to-back until the end of the season). However, there’s a great solution for this problem.

Deadline has word that if ABC chooses to cancel Happy Endings, which seems like a foregone conclusion at this point, USA has been looking at the logistics of picking up the show as one of its first half-hour comedy endeavors. While the cable network has found success with hour-long shows like Royal Pains, White Collar and Burn Notice, they’ve yet to get a half-hour series off the ground despite actively developing and ordering new pilots.

Picking up a series with an established audience would be a great way to start a new direction for USA, and it would coincidentally have an ABC companion to go along with it since the network has been looking for another series to pair with the syndicated airing of Modern Family. Funny enough, Happy Endings used to air after Modern Family for its first two seasons, and was doing just fine until it was moved to Tuesdays in an already crowded comedy block timeslot. It’s the same reason Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 has been struggling as well.

ABC’s recent decision to move the series into a graveyard timeslot on Friday evenings doesn’t help either, and it actually caused the show to lose more viewers. In this day and age though, cancellation on one of the big network’s does not mean death. Cougar Town was resurrected by TBS and now has a fifth season order. If USA can pick up Happy Endings and deliver at least a couple more seasons, fans would be pretty grateful and pleased. Plus, that means the series would have enough to get a syndication deal, and that’s what the executives really like to see.

If anything, ABC cancelling Happy Endings would essentially be a blessing in disguise so USA can give it the time, respect and promotion it needs to survive. Networks like ABC demand results immediately whereas cable has more time to let a series simmer and really find a comfortable home and dedicated audience. Stay tuned.

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Just because you don’t know the channel means it is a bad decision? The show might be saved. Isn’t that good enough? USA is usually around the same channel as A&E, TNT, and FX. Doesn’t hurt to look around their on your channel guide.

I think this is a great solution. I have to say, I think more quality programming will start finding better homes on cable than on network television. Audiences don’t seem to have any issues finding shows on cable like they used to. Now if we can just get the once semi-intelligent networks like TLC or most of the Discovery varieties to give up on their stupid reality shows (seriously how many storage/luggage auction, wildlife hunters, or towing company reality shows do people need?) cable might actually be worth paying for instead of streaming shows on Netflix and Hulu for a fraction of the price.

Fantastic news. Easily one of the funniest shows on the air. When ABC broke up their Wednesday nite line-up, I became concerned that there might be something in the water over there, now I’m convinced.

I can only say I’ll be very Happy with the Ending of that show! It’s not funny or clever; and I hate that ABC has given it so many chances when other shows with higher ratings were yanked off the production schedule after only a few episodes.

How can ABC be so damn stupid and put yet another stupid reality show “wife swap” instead of keeping
the funniest show around “Happy ENdings”. They moved the show around so much it was hard to find
where the hell it was. Come on ABC grow a pair and keep it on the air you people just don’t know what
the public wants and the public doesn’t need “celebrity wife swap.” Just know cast and writers of Happy
Endings, you made a lot of people laugh out loud every time it aired. And I’m not a young kid, I’m a
middle aged mom that loved the show. I watched it every week with my 20 something daughter. Please
keep this show on the air ABC, and keep it in a spot that people know where to find it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Lynne Sussman

I love this show. I soooooo hope that it is allowed to go on even on another network. Those ABC, CBS, NBC networks suck. It’s because they keep putting awesome shows on then taking them off to fast. I just discovered this last week and loved it so much I went and bought the 1st and 2nd season just so I could watch it and that was only after seeing 2 episodes off on demand. As Penny would say this show is “ahhhhhmaaazing”